Clyde the Glide Gates our new return specialist?

As opposed to McKnight and Kerley who don't do both well, I think Gates can return both punts and kicks, he did last year for Miami and he averaged 25 on kicks and 10 on punts. Give Westhoff this young beast and watch him work some magic. We all know he can fly but he also has a nice compact frame 5.11 197, then we can have McKnight focusing on backup RB more where he really belongs and Kerley on playing the slot. If Gates can fill this role for us, which I think he can then this will be a hell of a signing. He doesn't even have to step on the field on offense, just return well for me and I'm happy.

Definitely don't want to take McKnight off kick returns, he made the pro bowl last year and looked good this preseason.
If Gates is sure-handed at catching punts then I could see him doing that. With both Cotchery and Leonhard gone there's nobody left on this team who can "catch the ball in a hurricane" as Rex puts it.

If all Gates ever does is return kicks at a high level, then that's fine. But, I hope, the Jets find some creative ways to use his speed and size. He could be great fit in the Tebow package, used in a similar way to Demps or Percy Harvin while they were at Florida. Put him in motion, toss it to him, send him on a reverse, throw to him on a swing pass out of the backfield etc. His elite speed, coupled with Tebow's size and toughness, would give the Jets a real thunder and lightning combo, keep defenders on their toes, and cause match-up problems for opposing coaches.

As opposed to McKnight and Kerley who don't do both well, I think Gates can return both punts and kicks, he did last year for Miami and he averaged 25 on kicks and 10 on punts. Give Westhoff this young beast and watch him work some magic. We all know he can fly but he also has a nice compact frame 5.11 197, then we can have McKnight focusing on backup RB more where he really belongs and Kerley on playing the slot. If Gates can fill this role for us, which I think he can then this will be a hell of a signing. He doesn't even have to step on the field on offense, just return well for me and I'm happy.

He had 3 punt returns...Not much of a sample size and I haven't found anything in writeups from college that indicate he returned punts..

The Jets needed to add a WR who could play WR, not be a kick off specialist. This move does nothing to improve the WR situation, just adds another guy who people are going to gush about his so called potential and produce very little on the field.

The Jets needed to add a WR who could play WR, not be a kick off specialist. This move does nothing to improve the WR situation, just adds another guy who people are going to gush about his so called potential and produce very little on the field.

I don't think we should write him off just yet. I agree he should be viewed as a WR and not just a return specialist.

He's raw..But I would think for now Sparano can get him on the field in certain packages until he develops more as a WR.

Edmond Gates might be small-school, but he has the potential to be big-time in the NFL.

As if the Abilene Christian wide receiver’s performance at the NFL Scouting Combine last month hadn’t done enough for his draft stock, Gates put on a show once again in front of representatives from 22 teams at the school’s pro day on Monday held outdoors on FieldTurf.

The conditions were windy, but that didn’t stop Gates from wowing the crowd.

Gates (6 feet, 189 pounds) stood on his impressive combine 40-yard dash time of 4.37 seconds — which he did with a groin injury and was tied for tops in Indy among receivers — but re-did the broad jump, posting an 11-foot-2 mark better than his 10-11 jump at the combine, which was second among receivers. Gates also had a 4.13 short shuttle and a 6.82 3-cone drill.

During his individual workout, Gates was outstanding, looking more advanced than Bears WR Johnny Knox, another Abilene Christian alum who was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2009 and has done pretty well for himself overall in the NFL.

Gates is every bit as good as Knox, probably better based on what we’ve seen of him. The fact that 22 teams showed up to watch Gates work out tells you how good he is. It’s not like he was just an OK starter at a small school; he was a star. And he has backed it up in workouts. Knox’s success also gives credence to Gates’ ability.

Knox was a fifth rounder. I’d say Gates is a third or fourth rounder. A team like New England has a great advantage because they’ve got two third-round picks. Somebody with two picks in those rounds can afford to take a little bit of a gamble on a player who has played lesser competition.
In this case, that decision could lead to a big payoff.

Let's see the guy in an actual game before he's anointed the new return specialist. Last year people were all excited about Marty Gilyard and that dude didn't even make it to week 1 after being claimed off waivers.

I'm glad to see the FO looking everywhere they can for talent, but I'm not going to get excited about a guy until he actually does something. Anything.

However, since this offense will produce many three and outs might as well go with a max protect 2 burner package and air the fín ball .
This seemingly unimportant waiver claim could add value to Hillís presence since both are 4.3 40 burners. (Letís forget their actual ability to catch the ball for now Iím drinking my cool aid).

Hopefully the defenses wonít crowd the box constantly if they worry about the top being blown off.

Definitely don't want to take McKnight off kick returns, he made the pro bowl last year and looked good this preseason.
If Gates is sure-handed at catching punts then I could see him doing that. With both Cotchery and Leonhard gone there's nobody left on this team who can "catch the ball in a hurricane" as Rex puts it.

I dont think McNight made the pro bowl, but more importantly he led the league in return avg.

I think maybe McKnight may not be ready for the first game or two. That would make a lot of sense, and really screw up you guys theories. As far as I've read Gates can definitely get open, and was missed on quite a few deep balls last year where he had his guy cleanly beat. He certainly doesn't fit in the west coast offense, but he does in this one. Btw we haven't seen the new offense. It's not just the wildcat that we haven't seen. You have to take shots downfield for this offense to work. That should open up the running game, and the middle for Tone, and Keller. With that kind of speed on the outside we can also throw out of the big TE package with Smith in max protect, which will also keep them honest. We will see. The only move that doesn't make sense is keeping Conner.

Gates is incredibly raw and was having a hard time grasping concepts. I don't think he's the brightest guy out there. If you simplify things for him here he might prove useful, especially in the wildcat where you can use him on end arounds and those sort of things. Keep it simple for him and he will produce some big plays. In my opinion, he's a year or two away, for now he's a number 5 gadget type who can return, I still think it was a quality signing.

I think maybe McKnight may not be ready for the first game or two. That would make a lot of sense, and really screw up you guys theories. As far as I've read Gates can definitely get open, and was missed on quite a few deep balls last year where he had his guy cleanly beat. He certainly doesn't fit in the west coast offense, but he does in this one. Btw we haven't seen the new offense. It's not just the wildcat that we haven't seen. You have to take shots downfield for this offense to work. That should open up the running game, and the middle for Tone, and Keller. With that kind of speed on the outside we can also throw out of the big TE package with Smith in max protect, which will also keep them honest. We will see. The only move that doesn't make sense is keeping Conner.

If thats the case I doubt they would have released Gannaway.

Also, speed means NOTHING if you can not catch the ball, something Gates could not do in Miami. He was dropping passes on a regular basis in camp this year.

Let's hope Gates can come in and play right away. After all, he should be familiar with Sparano's system right? As this post says, he could be dangerous with Hill on the outside in opening up things underneath for Holmes/Keller/Kerley and getting open deep with their speed on the field. http://www.ganggreennation.com/2012/...ictor-cruz-yes

If all Gates ever does is return kicks at a high level, then that's fine. But, I hope, the Jets find some creative ways to use his speed and size. He could be great fit in the Tebow package, used in a similar way to Demps or Percy Harvin while they were at Florida. Put him in motion, toss it to him, send him on a reverse, throw to him on a swing pass out of the backfield etc. His elite speed, coupled with Tebow's size and toughness, would give the Jets a real thunder and lightning combo, keep defenders on their toes, and cause match-up problems for opposing coaches.

This may be the best way to use him early on and get some quick returns out of the gate